Global thermoset material supplier Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc. (MSC) has announced a collaboration with the Fraunhofer Project Center for Composites Research at Western University (London, Ontario, Canada) with the goal of developing a total solutions approach to high-volume, lightweight composites manufacturing for the North American automotive market.

Engineering efficient gasoline engines is more important than ever. However, using physical testing alone to determine an engine’s maximum efficiency is expensive. Fortunately, simulating knock phenomenon with CAE is more feasible than ever.

The new 6T80 transaxle and Haldex AWD with limited-slip rear differential enable the fwd sedan to handle the significantly higher output. The top-mount air box with intercooler also contains the throttle body.

For the first time at Volkswagen, a “collaborative robot” is now being used at one of the OEM’s plants, according to Universal Robots, supplier of the device. The Danish robot maker says its UR5 unit inserts glow plugs in various diesel engines at VW’s engine plant in Salzgitter, Germany.

Ford engineers and university research partners are exploring adsorption-based thermal batteries that could provide power for HVAC systems and lessen the load on battery packs, allowing electric vehicles to travel farther.

While Jaguar has made impressive strides in the car's design, with an all-aluminum structure that provides a tremendously rigid foundation, company engineers recognized the risk of technical excellence is making an otherwise fabulous car too antiseptic. So they roughened up the F-Type’s edges a bit by focusing on its exhaust note.

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new oxygen "sponge" that can easily absorb or shed oxygen atoms at low temperatures. Materials with these novel characteristics would be useful in devices such as rechargeable batteries, sensors, gas converters, and fuel cells.

A European Union-funded collaborative research project designed to convert exhaust waste heat into onboard electricity via is moving into the prototype stage, according to Ricardo. The company, a partner in the project (called PowerDriver), reported that recently completed simulation work on a potential automotive application of the thermo-electric generator technology (TGEN) indicates a possible output of 300 W and equivalent fuel savings over the NEDC drive cycle of 2.5%.

ATK received a contract from Orbital Sciences Corp. to provide first- and second-stage propulsion for the Air Launch Vehicle (ALV) that Orbital is designing and building for Stratolaunch Systems Corp. as part of an air-launched space transportation system.

AgustaWestland’s Brazilian subsidiary AgustaWestland Do Brasil is undergoing a major expansion with the building of a new facility in Sao Paulo that will include maintenance hangars with space that could accommodate a helicopter final assembly line, training center, bonded warehouse, workshops, and other supporting services including a dedicated heliport.

UTC Aerospace Systems has been selected by The Boeing Co. to manufacture landing gear for the new Boeing 737 MAX. The contract calls for UTC to provide the nose and main landing gear in addition to the main gear side struts.

NASA has selected Rockwell Collins to develop a new software analysis tools for verifying the safety of flight critical systems for future commercial aircraft. Under the terms of the one-year contract, Rockwell Collins will develop a set of software analysis tools, conduct demonstrations, and make recommendations to NASA.

Montréal, one of the world's leading aerospace centers, is site of the SAE 2013 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition, with Bombardier serving as host company. Fassi Kafyeke, Director of Strategic Technology, Bombardier Aerospace, and AeroTech Co-Chair, discusses the event and emerging industry trends.

Frank Popielas, Senior Manager of Advanced Engineering in the Dana Power Technologies Group and head of CAE for Dana, spoke with AEI Assistant Editor Matthew Monaghan about Dana's emphasis on innovation, supported by the right engineering tools.

Scientists in the U.K. have developed a lead-free, high-temperature ceramic capacitor using a dielectric material they call Hiteca (HIgh TEmperature CApacitor), which has a high energy density and operates stably at 200°C (392°F) and above.

The Elmiraj concept is a four-seat “grand coupe” that provides stylistic and dimensional clues to models planned for General Motors’ new large rear-drive architecture, the first model from which is expected to launch in late 2015.